Car-coupling



(No Model.)

IJ.BRADLEY.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 339,261. Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

Unite STATES PATENT FFICEQ JOHN BRADLEY, OF NE\VARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRADLEY AUTOMATIC COUPLER COMPANY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLiNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 339,261, dated April 6, 1886.

Serial No.173,891. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BRADLEY, of the city of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, have inventeda new and useful Improvement 5 in the Method or Manner of Coupling or Conneeting Railway Freight-Cars Together Automatieally.

My invention relates to ear-couplings in which counterpoised coupling books or pins IO are employed to secure the link; and it consists in the special construction of parts hereinafter described.

The following is a brief description of the drawings, and showing what each view repre- Figure 1 represents the draw-head, also counterpoise coupling-pin engaged with link bearing upon seats, sectional view. Fig. 2 represents counterpoise coupling-pin depressed from its seats in throat of draw-head, also cl1ain-eonnection through slot and hole to surface of draw-head, sectional view. Fi g. 3 represents counter-poise coupling-pin in regular form, with slotted hole for pivot-bearing 2 and slottedrecess for chain-connection.

I take the regular draw-head A, and in its center and upon its under side, just back of the head of the draw-head, I. cut a well or opening, a a, about six inches long by two 0 inches wide and four inches deep, with a back rest, at or cross-bar, with beveled or sloping face a in the center of this well or recess a to, extending from one side to the other and entirely across the said well or recess, which 3 5 serves to strengthen the draw-hcad A, and also as a seat for the link or coupling D to strike against and hold in its place while coupling. This beveled or sloping face a upon the back rest or crossbar a is for the purpose of 0 using links or couplings of any and all lengths, and to prevent the breaking of the back rest or crossbar, or the crippling of the links or couplings, by striking both ends at one and the same time. In this well or recess a. a, I

suspend a pivot or counterpoise coupling-pin,

B, hung at an angle from the center to produce an eccentric motion or downward move ment, so as to move within a limited space and not project below the under surface of drawhead A, for the purpose indicated. This counterpoise coupling-pin B, referred to, is made in the form of an eccentric or cam, ending in a coupling-pin, b, for the purpose of engaging and forming a complete connection be tween two draw-heads, A, by means of an ordinary link or coupling, such as is now in use upon all railroads. The end of this counterpoise couplingpin, which forms the couplingpin 1), hangs in its seat across and through the throat or inner end of the beveled or slop- 6o ing mouth E of the draw-head A. As the in coming link or coupling D strikes the beveled or sloping month E of the draw-head A it is brought into immediate contact with the face of coupling-pin B at the end I) of the connten 6 poise, which is immediately depressed by the contact. Being hung as an eccentric, it is readily displaced, and the link or coupling 1) passes over the end of the coupling-pin, which instantly enters or passes through the link or coupling D to its original seats a a. This conuterpoise eouplingpin B drops, as it were, from the blow or pressure received from the link or coupling D as it enters or passes into the throat of the draw-head A, and the counterpoise coupling-pin B, moving within the segment of a circle downward, raises the coupling'pin end I) through the link or coupling D, and the connection is made automatically and instantly. To make this connection more secure, I provide seats c a for each end of this coupling-pin I) to bear or draw against when subject to a draft. thus throwing the strain upon the strongest part of the draw-head A in just the same proportions and conditions as in the old method of link and pin, thus relieving the pivot-pinion from draft orstrain,

as the drawingpoint is made upon the coupling-pin end I) of the counter-poise couplingpin B. The results are all produced auto- 0 matically and instantly. The upper edge of this counterpoise coupling-pin B is provided with an eye, I), to which is attached a chain,

0, which passes through the slot b to a hole,

a, cored or bored at an angle to correspond with the eccentric motion of the counterpoise coupling-pin B. This hole (t extends through the upper face of the draw-head for the purpose of allowing the chain 0 to move freely as the counterpoisc coupling-pin B is moved. too This chain extends to the top of the freightcar, for the purpose of uncoupling or releasing the counterpoise coupling-pin B from the link or coupling D by simply pulling the chain 0 upward toward the top of the car, and to either or both sides of the car and at its end outside.

The throat of the draw-head A is so constructed that the link or coupling D can be set or placed in a horizontal position to make the connection from the opposing draw-head without being depressed; or it can be left depressed at an angle, so as to engage or couple at any difference in height of the opposing draw-heads.

I am aware that counterpoised couplinghooks and draft-seats formed in the draw-head to act in conjunction therewith have heretofore been known, and I do not seek to cover such construction, broadly.

VVhatI claim as my invention, and desire to cover by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car ooupling substantially such as described, the counterpoised coupler B, formed with the eccentric portion 1), the upper side of which is formed with a longitudinal groove, 2), and pull-bolt I), for the reception of the pull 0, in combination with a draw-head, A, formed in its upper side with the pull-hole a substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In a oar-coupler substantially such as described, the counterpoise B, formed with the elongated slot b, 'for the reception of the pivot a the longitudinal, groove b, pull-bolt b, and pull 0, and the coupling-hook I), in combination with the draw-head formed with the draft-seats a and a and the pull-hole G, substantially in the manner and for the purpose deseribed.

In a car -eoupling substantially such as designated, the combination, with the counterpoised coupling-pin, of a back rest or crossbar formed in the draw-head in such relation to the body of the said counter-poise coupling as to afford a support for the inner end of the c0upling-1ink, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

JOHN BRADLEY.

\Vitnesses:

ADDISON S. DIOSSY, G. V. XVAR'D. 

